Jack Rendel

J & Z Publications

Five Sufferings of Jesus

Mark 14:1, 2; 17-21; 43-49; 15:1-5; 33-41

Jack Rendel

 Introduction

Spitting, beatings, a crown of thorns, nails, a cross and a spear were all things Jesus suffered. But he suffered other wounds as well. They plotted, betrayed, arrested, accused and insulted him. These wounds were not physical; they were emotional, mental, moral and spiritual. These wounds pierced the soul.

 You may have experienced some of these kinds of hurts even during this past week. Others have plotted against you, betrayed you, arrested or isolated you, accused you and insulted you. Maybe you have been carrying wounds around for along time. Jesus lived in our world and was wounded in the same ways we are. The very first response we can make to Jesus is to thank him for being the God who is near, near us, and the One who understands our sorrows. Can we ever “get over” the love of God who sent his one and only Son into the world to suffer with us, and for us?

 As we look across the last 3 chapters of Mark’s gospel, from chapter 14, verse 1 to chapter 16 and verse 8, we find 5 stories that are parallel and have this common denominator of these 5 emotional and mental sufferings of Jesus. They are: 1) plotted against at the Passover party, 2) betrayed by a disciple and friend, 3) arrested by an armed crowd with a kiss, 4) accused at an audience with Pilate, and 5) insulted regarding his anointing and titles by the high priests while hanging on the cross.

 I. 14:1, 2 Plotted Against At A Party – To Be Killed

 Mar 14:1  In only two days the eight-day Festival of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way they could seize Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Mar 14:2  They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want the crowds up in arms," they said. MSG

 A Feast

It was a wonderful occasion to be able to go up to Jerusalem with the thousands of people who came to enjoy the feast. We like parties. This was a party with God. Three times a year all males in Israel were to present themselves before God in Jerusalem. The Lord instituted feasts for Israel to enjoy in his presence in Jerusalem. These were spiritual parties!

 Great Historical and Biblical Parties

Alexander the Great threw parties and got drunk at them. He died in a drunken state. The young man who conquered so much of the world was conquered by drink and disease.

 At a party he organized, Belshazzar took the vessels of God and drank from them, worshipping his gods. Belshazzar’s granddad, Nebuchadnezzar, had the decency to put the vessels of God in the temple of his god in Babylon when he captured Jerusalem. (David Gooding, lectures on Daniel ca. 1970 at Madrid, Spain) When Belshazzar drank from God’s vessels at this party he organized, he virtually declared himself a god, and lost his empire that night to the Medes and the Persians.

 The Persian monarch Ahasuerus threw a party, to which he invited Vashti, his queen, who refused to come. This led to her removal and the selection of Esther who in this position saved her people from destruction by Hamman, who was plotting against the Jews.

 Jesus told parables about wedding parties.

 Jesus, at the wedding party in Cana, turned water into very good wine.

 The Liberation of Paris Was a Party

Those who could not reach them from the pavements threw flowers, carrots, radishes, and whatever they could put their hands on! The allied armies were rumbling into Paris in 1944, but as they entered they were overwhelmed by a sea of humanity laughing, crying, weeping, shouting and screaming, “Paris is liberated, Paris is free!” Young women and children hung on to the jeeps like bunches of grapes, bringing the columns almost to a halt. The outpouring of euphoria came in wave after wave. It was like an enormous block party engulfing the city! The liberation of Paris was a party. (¿Arde París? [Is Paris Burning?], Dominique-Lapierre, p. 487, Plaza y Janés, S.A., 1989)

 Plotted

 My 50^th

What do you do to plan a party? My mother and my aunt planned and gave me a party for my 50^th birthday. Cathy and I went to Florida to visit them, and they arranged it at the SIM retirement village in Sebring. It was quite a surprise! My retired “aunties” from Nigeria were all telling me of how they had known me when I was a baby. At the time they were new workers in their 20’s.

 Fables In The Cathedral

A plot eventually took John the Baptist’s life at a birthday party for King Herod. He was living with his brother’s wife Herodias. Her daughter danced at the birthday party and so pleased Herod that he offered her up to half his kingdom. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist which she did. Herod was forced to comply before all his lords and beheaded the prophet.

 We had the opportunity to take a "tour" of a cathedral in one of the countries where we were ministering. The guide took us from room to room. In one of them we noticed a head severed from the body lying on a shelf. When we asked what it was, the guide said that it was the head of John the Baptist…the real head of John the Baptist! He surprised us still more when he added that in his country, in four other cathedrals, they had more authentic heads of John the Baptist!

 So, of course, we asked the guide about the case of John the Baptist. How did John get his head cut off? Well, he began to tell us the story. He said that 2000 years ago, in the time of Jesus, there was a king and a prophet, by the name of John the Baptist. The king and the prophet both fell in love with the same maiden. And because the king wielded more influence and was more powerful, he killed the prophet, and he took the woman. For many people it's all the same whether the guide knew the true story or not. For those who know the Bible, we know that guide's story is not correct. In fact, sometimes you hear fantastic things from people, when it has to do with biblical events.

 Bible Plots

A Dr. Willmington compiled a list of 32 plots in the Bible found in his Book of Bible Lists. (Book of Bible Lists H. L. Willmington, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. , Wheaton, Illinois, 1987.)

 Below I list a few of those plots:

 “2. Jacob’s and Rebecca’s plot against Esau and Isaac. They deceived Isaac into believing that Jacob was Esau in order to secure the blessing for Jacob. Gen. 27

 “3. Simeon’s and Levi’s plot against Shechem. They tricked Shechem and his tribe into circumcising themselves, and then, while they were recovering, killed them. This was done in revenge for seducing Dinah. Gen. 34

 “4. Joseph’s brothers’ plot against Joseph. Out of envy they sold him into Egyptian slavery and then told their father a wild animal had eaten him. Gen. 37:18

 “11. Absalom’s plot against David. Under the pretence of fulfilling a vow to God, Absalom received permission to visit Hebron. He actually went there to organize and announce his rebellion. 2 Sam. 15

 “13. Jezebel’s plot against Naboth. Jezebel sent a letter ordering Naboth to be falsely accused of blasphemy and murdered so Ahab could possess Naboth’s vineyard. 1 Kings 21

 “15. Certain Chaldean’s plot against Daniel. They caused a law to be made whereby no could pray to any God except King Darius. Dan. 6

 “23. The Jewish leaders’ plot to kill Lazarus. They hoped to dispose of the evidence for the greatest of Jesus’ miracles-the raising of a dead man four days in the grave. John 12:10-11.”

 It’s fun and exciting to plan something, a trip, a project, an evangelistic campaign, a ministry trip, a party, especially a surprise party. It is fulfilling to plan things. God has given us the ability to think ahead and imagine what can be accomplished. But have you ever plotted to kill someone? I hope not. What a dreadful thought! In the prophecy of Zechariah 7:10 the Lord said to Israel, “…and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.” NASB-u

 Killed

The organizers of the party, however, planned to kill Jesus and eventually it would happen during the party, although they tried to avoid that happening. They did not want their feast, or party, to turn into a riot so they tried to arrest and kill him slyly. In spite of what they were doing against Jesus, they wanted the feast to be a loud joyous occasion, not a boisterous destructive riot.

 II. 14:17-21 Betrayed By A Friend

 Mar 14:18  As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me."

Mar 14:19  Stunned, they started asking, one after another, "It isn't me, is it?"

Mar 14:20  He said, "It's one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl. MSG

 A Meal

It is a wonderful thing to sit down to a meal with others, with friends, and talk. It is enjoyable. Who are your best friends, the ones you go out with and eat together.  Talking over a meal with Cathy in order to have time together and catch up is a blessing. Talking with my boss, Humberto, over a meal about the ministry in Latin America and about my ministry is a blessing.

 Betrayed

However, the very person Jesus would dip his bread in the bowl with was Judas who would betray him.

 My classmates who kicked me out of the pickle club, but they did it for good reason. I had betrayed them.

 Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and later by Potiphar’s wife. Actually Potiphar’s wife betrayed Potiphar, because she was after Joseph when she should have been faithful to Potiphar. Secondly she betrayed Potiphar by betraying Joseph because Joseph had brought blessing to Potiphar’s house.

 Who is one of your best friends? You may not have 12, but you may have 1 or 2 or 3. What if they betrayed you? You might expect betrayal of your enemies, but not a friend. One of the toughest is to be betrayed by a husband or wife.

 III. 14:43-49 Arrested By A Kiss – Arrested

 Mar 14:43  No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a gang of ruffians, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs.

Mar 14:44  The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: "The one I kiss, that's the one--seize him. Make sure he doesn't get away."

Mar 14:45  He went straight to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.

Mar 14:46  The others then grabbed him and roughed him up. MSG

 A Kiss

It is nice to be kissed. All over the world, although not in every culture, the kiss is used as a greeting or to communicate affection. Some people’s kisses can be arresting! They stop you in their tracks! Kissing can get confusing as we travel from place to place. Do I kiss the ladies or the men? Is it on one cheek or both? In Russia the men kiss men smack on the lips. Phone calls to, within or from Russia on my cell phone cost $6 bucks as well!

 Arrested

To be kissed by one of his disciples or friends should have been a great joy to Jesus but now it was a sign of who they were to arrest! A kiss and an arrest are surely opposites!

 15:1-5 Accused At An Audience - Accused

 Mar 15:1  At dawn's first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.

Mar 15:2  Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" He answered, "If you say so."

Mar 15:3  The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.

Mar 15:4  Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations."

Mar 15:5  Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed. (amazed or dumbfounded or gob smacked) MSG

 An Audience

 He talked the Whole Interview

The captain and crew of the Doulos asked for an audience with Pinochet, the dictator of Chile in the early 1980’s. Port fees for 5 ports would cost $250,000 and they wanted to ask him for a waiver of the fees, or a big discount. Upon arriving at his office he told them they had 15 minutes for the interview. They presented him with the letter asking for the port fees to be waived. Pinochet, however, talked the whole 15 minutes. The captain and officers did not say hardly a word! As they returned to the Doulos they had the sinking feeling that they were bound for a disappointment. But an hour later a letter arrived from Pinochet’s office forgiving them all the port fees! That was a key audience.

 Roman Pride

The Romans prided themselves on their system of law because it gave the accused an opportunity to answer his accusers. A person was not punished without recourse to some justice. It would have been a privilege to have an audience with the highest human authority in the land, both Roman and Jewish, in other circumstances. Most of us are not famous. Imagine getting the attention of all the rulers in the country. It would be wonderful, but not for Jesus on this occasion.

 Accused

 No Answer

However, Jesus did something which amazed Pilate. He did not answer his accusers. Pilate had never seen this before. The prophet predicted this. Isaiah said in chapter 53, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers was dumb, so he did not open his mouth.” “For the transgression of my people he was smitten!”

 No Defense

He did not defend himself because he was dying for our sins and there was no defense for our sins! “The Lord made his life a guilt offering”  Again he said, “…he will bear their iniquities.” And again, …he bore the sin of many…” NIV Back in the early 1970’s I was accused by my OM team of being a bad leader and they were right but when we all met together I tried to defend myself. Eventually I saw the foolishness of that and gave way which led to the whole team forgiving one another for our offenses against each other.

 As children we would run to mom and dad crying that the other child had hit us or taken our toy. The other child would appear and make the counter claim, “But he or she did it to me first!” We accused each other. But is this not the normal reaction to being accused even as adults?

 A Chance to Answer

It is hard to receive a letter telling you that the sender would not want to receive any more communication from you or your group because your ministry cooperated with denominations that did immoral things. If the person would write and ask whether our group did so, and kindly asked for a reply to those charges, that would be ever so good of them. It does seem a little uncharitable to accuse us and our group of something without giving us the opportunity to respond. If this happens God is giving us the opportunity to react in love and forgiveness, by not attacking such a person and by remembering to pray for that person.

 15:27-32 Insulted Anointing

 Mar 15:29  People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days--

Mar 15:30  so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"

Mar 15:31  The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others--but he can't save himself!

Mar 15:32  Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!" Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery. MSG

 A Title

Those who mocked him used 2 titles, Messiah and King of Israel. Messiah means Anointed One. The kings of Israel were anointed. The high priests were as well. These high priests, anointed ones, were mocking God’s anointed One. They should have been more careful. Do your remember how careful David was not to kill or disrespect King Saul, because although he was foolish and did wrong, was the Lord’s anointed.

Insulted

The priests and even the robbers crucified on either side of him, heaped insults on him. “They added insult to injury.” He saved others but can’t save himself.

Your Wasting Your Time

I was returning to the States from a year with OM in Iran in 1967 and caught a ride on a great green hippie bus coming back from Nepal. The bus was full but one seat was left for me. Everyone on board was a Brit except for the guy sitting next to me. He was American and he was into James Bond novels. I was reading my Bible and he objected to that. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was wasting my time and should be reading James Bond. As we talked I learned he was Jewish but he was not at all interested in that most Jewish book, the Bible. I hope God may have reminded him of our meeting later on when he was more open to the things of God.

 Conclusion

How did Jesus respond to all these attacks? He did not retaliate. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “…and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously…” NASB-u

 I am not talking about these things in order to stir up your anger against people who have hurt you. I talk about them to make it very clear that Jesus suffered these things. He is not a God who is distant, removed and cold towards us. He knows our aching hearts and burdened souls. Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” If we are willing he will also carry our sorrows and bear our grief. Isaiah 53:4.

 What is amazing is that Jesus did not allow any of these sufferings to divert him from fulfilling his promises and purpose for us. The wounds he suffered were a part of that fulfillment. We tend to think that sorrows and setbacks hinder God’s work in us and forget that God uses these things to mold us and make the image of Christ clearer in us. We think these things will destroy our lives and accomplishments, but actually, if we can learn to handle them like Jesus did, they become stepping stones to victory.

 End of Message

 Following is the table of contents of the division and section, shadowed in gray, where the five stories are found describing the emotional suffering Jesus endured.

 VI.       MARK 14:1-16:8    HOW WILL THE MESSIAH ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?

©Copyright 2006-2046 John (Jack) W Rendel. All rights reserved.

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